Anti-crushing device for use with barges

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a blocking device where a block with a handle is attached to a wire and the wire is attached to a spring attached to a boat, dock, or barge. Multiple blocking devices are positioned on a boat, dock, or barge. When a person falls in the water the block is thrown in the water to prevent the person from being crushed. The block also may be in a holder.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/143,455 filed by Matthew Schapker and Bruce McGinnis on Jan. 29, 2021 and entitled “Anti-crushing device for use with barges,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to life-saving devices for the maritime industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Each year maritime workers or passengers fall in the water between boats and docks, between towboats and barges, between barges, or between barges and the dock. Also people fall in the water near lock and dam systems. The people who fall in the water are often crushed and severely injured or killed when tons of steel are coming together.

Other than a standard life preserver and life jackets there is very little to prevent the people from being crushed boats, barges, docks, locks, and dams come together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is blocking device 100 used to prevent boats, barges, docks, locks, and dams from closing on a person in the water. The block device 100 may be a block 110 or chunk of material in any size or shape. A handle 120 is attached to a block 110 to allow it to be picked up and thrown in the water to save a person from being crushed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a blocking device.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a blocking device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a blocking device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is blocking device 100 used to prevent boats, barges, docks, locks, and dams from closing on a person in the water. The block device 100 may be a block 110 or chunk of material in any size or shape. A handle 120 can be attached to the block. A fastener 130 is attached to the block 110 and a wire 200. The wire 200 can be attached to the fastener on one end and a spring 300 on another end. The spring 300 can be attached temporarily or permanently to a boat.

In a preferred embodiment, the block 110 has the dimensions of 12″ wide, 12″ high, and 12″ deep. The block 110 can be any dimension. However, these dimensions have been found effective to give a person enough space when the material of boats, barges, docks, locks, and dams collides. The block 110 could be made of any material which is capable of floating and is not crushed instantly when the metal collides from any combination of boats, barges, docks, locks and dams. The block 110 can painted or coated with high visible colors. During manufacture, the block 110 can be dipped in a polyurethane coating. One embodiment of the block 110 is made of oak but any

The handle 120 is attached to the block 110. The handle 120 allows the block 110 to be quickly picked up and tossed into the water to prevent someone from being crushed by items in the water. The fastener 130 is attached to the block 110 and one end of the wire 200 to allow the block 110 to be retrieve or kept close to a boat where it is needed. The other end of the wire is attached to a spring 300 attached in some way to a boat or dock or barge. Multiple blocking devices 100 should be attached near the water in multiple location around boats, barges, locks, dams, and docks. The blocking device 100 can be put in a holder 400. The holder 400 could attached or just set on top of a boat, barge, dock, lock, and dam.

The block 110 is picked up by the handle and thrown into a body of water to prevent a person in the body of water from being crushed between two objects. The water can be a river, lake, pond, ocean, or pool or tank of water. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A blocking device comprising a block with a handle attached, a fastener attached to the block and a wire on a first end of the wire, on second end of the wire a spring is attached to any object.
 2. The blocking device in claim 1 where the block is placed in a holder.
 3. A method of saving a person from being crushed in a body of water by another person grabbing a handle of a block and throwing a block in a body of water.
 4. A system of saving a person from being crushed in a body of water comprising a block with a handle, said block having a fastener attached to a wire, wherein the wire is attached to a spring and the spring is attached to a boat. 